N.J. teachers union backs 3 gun bills pending in Legislature

TRENTON — New Jersey's largest teachers union is officially backing three of the more than 20 gun measures approved by the state Assembly and awaiting action in the Senate.

One bill would prohibit the state from investing pension or annuity funds in companies that make or sell firearms for civilian use. The other two would authorizie municipalities to establish weapons-free zones around schools and create a 15-member task force to study issues of school security.

The vice president of the New Jersey Education Association, Wendell Steinhauer, announced support for the three measures at a statehouse news conference Monday.

He said all three directly involve schools, students and school employees.

The NJEA says it also encourages the Legislature to consider enacting other measures to prevent gun violence.